FREE ESSAY ON "ON GOLDEN POND" BY ERNEST THOMPSON

"ON GOLDEN POND" BY ERNEST THOMPSON

"On Golden Pond", by Ernest Thompson, is the outside performance that I chose to attend
and critique. Michael Oberfield directed and acted in this performance of " On Golden
Pond." Though the production was produced in cooperation with the Graham Agency, actors
from the community and acting students from the local Academy of Arts played active
rolls. Set Design was done by Russel A. Thompson and costume design by Jane Bingham.
I was put under the impression that this play was a comedy with a serious twist, but
after viewing the performance it seemed more like a serious play with a little comedy to
keep the audience interested. An elderly couple, Ethel and Norman, which discover much
about themselves and their middle-aged children arrive at their summer home in New
England, as they do every summer. Soon, their estranged daughter Chelsea, played by Beth
Ellege, shows up with her boyfriend Bill, played by John Vessels Jr., and his
thirteen-year old son Billy, Conflicts between Norman and Chelsea, which have been going
on for years, further develop upon her arrival at the lake. The main role of Norman,
played by Ron Bupp, was introduced as a grumpy and elderly old man, but deep down in all
seriousness a very sensitive, shy person who seems to try to hide these traits with
crankiness and bluster. Ethel, Norman's wife, played by Jennie Hollander, is a sweet and
supportive woman who proves to be a stabilizing force in the family. She, too, has her
moments with Chelsea but only once does she lose her temper. She is deeply in love with
Norman and it shows throughout the film. Chelsea wants to be her father's friend but
doesn't know how to approach him. She also has a fear of him to overcome. Norman, a
retired college professor, is an avid fisherman and he and Billy develop a genuine
friendship while fishing. Billy is left at the lake with Chelsea parents for the majority
of the summer while Chelsea and Bill Sr. go away on a little trip. Billy is eventually
responsible for the resolution of these conflicts between father and daughter. The first
act starts out slow but very comical, especially when there friend and mailman Charlie
Martin, played by Michael Orberfield (director), drops by to deliver their mail and have
a cup of coffee, along with some conversation. When Chelsea returns, she finds out that
Norman and Billy got along great. Billy is played by Nicholas J. Pellito, a student at
the local center of the arts. Chelsea and Ethel spend a lot of time together while her
father spends time with Billy, which allows them to talk about the problem between
herself and her father, eventually she talks to him and settles all of their problems. As
Ethel and Norman are getting ready to leave, Norman suffers from a massive stroke and
nearly passes away. Yet with Ethel's encouragement, he is able to pull through, and
realize just how precious and fragile this life is.
Now for my review, the blocking was what I would expect for such a script. The set was a
designed as a nice, warm, homey like summer home, with nice soft couches, plenty of
books, fishing poles, and anything desired in a summer home. Lighting and sound was a
well though of, lights were soft in the background and through the windows to give a
horizon type of effect, and the sound was clear and crisp.
This play is about family, about love between children and parents. It's about
friendship, aging and about living and dying, A heavy load indeed. I enjoyed this play
and recommend it.